Page 157 of The Ascended
He touched two fingers to a small cut on his cheek, and the droplet of blood expanded, becoming a crimson mist that hung in the air. Marx inhaled before she could stop herself, and I watched her eyes go wide as the blood curse took hold. Her movements turned syrup-slow.
More red rose from the ground in droplets, each one hardening into a crimson needle that hung suspended in the air, pointed at me.
"And that," Aelix said with calm steps, "is why you're still students and I am a Legend."
With a flick of his wrist, the curses dissolved. The blood sank back into the earth, leaving only rust-colored stains on our clothesand skin. I collapsed to my knees, gasping. My blood still felt wrong, sluggish and foreign in my veins.
"Show-off," Marx muttered, bent over with her hands on her knees. Her breath came in ragged pants.
"There are no rules in combat except survival," Aelix corrected, not even winded. "I'm sure Xül has taught you that, Thais."
I straightened, wincing at the ache in my shoulder where his curse had invaded. "Oh, he has. Usually while beating the lesson into me with the blunt end of a training sword."
Aelix laughed. "That does sound familiar." He glanced up at the position of the sun, calculating. "I think we've earned a break. I'll fetch some food from the kitchens."
"I could eat an entire boar," Marx declared, collapsing onto the ground with her arms spread wide.
"Please don't," Aelix said, already turning toward the path that led back to the Bone Spire. "The last time you tried that, the kitchen staff refused to serve you for a week."
"Worth it," Marx called after him as he disappeared into the trees.
We sat in silence for a few minutes, catching our breath. The forest around us was alive with sounds—birds calling to each other in strange whistles, the rustling of creatures moving through the underbrush on too many legs. It was peaceful, in its own wild way.
"You've been avoiding me," Marx said, her voice serious.
I glanced at her, feigning innocence. "What are you talking about? We train together every day."
"You know what I mean." She picked at a blade of grass, shredding it between her fingers. "Ever since the archives. Ever since I... revealed what I did."
"I haven't been avoiding you. I just... didn't want to press. It seemed painful to discuss."
"Don't feel different about me now that you know I'm a kin-killer?" She raised an eyebrow.
I studied her for a moment, trying to decide which Marx I would get today—the sarcastic brute who blew everything off, or the understanding girl who seemed lost to her own darkness sometimes. "After hearing what they did to you, I could never judge you for retaliating."
"Well, I suppose I appreciate that." She said, looking away.
"I know there are things you probably want to ask me as well." I sucked in a deep breath.
"You mean, why you and your brother can never follow the rules?" She asked, turning towards me with wide eyes.
"Yeah, something like that."
"Sure, I'd love to know why it's necessary."
"Can I trust you?" I asked with quiet words.
Marx snorted. "What kind of question is that?"
"A serious one." I turned to face her and let her see the certainty in my eyes. "Marx, I need to know. Can I trust you?"
My tone must have gotten through. The sarcasm faded from her expression.
"Yes," she said with simplicity. "You can trust me, Morvaren."
My hands trembled as I steeled myself. "I can't tell you everything. Not because I don't want to, but because I can't. There are secrets that aren't mine alone to tell. Secrets that would put everyone in danger who knew them."
Her eyes narrowed, mind working behind them. "Does this have something to do with your blood?"
